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Game Day Theology

A friend was over watching the Superbowl last night. She was telling a few of us about her new evening art classes she’s taking.

Slightly envious over her spare time, I listened as she talked about how she brought her paintings for her teacher to critique last week.

Before she left for class, she had been picking out places on her walls to hang her hard work. Proud of her compositions, in love with the color, and mimicking one of her favorite artists, she brought her canvases to her professor and waited excitedly for feedback.

Critique is right. The teacher pointed out flaws, weaknesses, and even mocked her use of color.

Upon returning home, she told her husband she wouldn’t be hanging them up.

And I marveled. “That’ll preach,” I thought to myself silently.

Moms and Dads, be careful what criticism you allow to seep into your head.

[bctt tweet=”Moms and Dads, be careful what criticism you allow to seep into your head.”]

This job of raising up the next generation is hard enough without all the added input from others tearing down our hard work, questioning our every decision. I remember being a young mom, proud of my decisions, excited about my choices, thankful to have direction. And so many other voices, voices of “experience”, people I looked up to and hungered for their approval and longing to see the same excitement in their eyes matching mine…disappointed me. Criticism, questioning, deliberation….and plenty of hurtful comments instead made me fearful to even ask anyone anything anymore.

And hey yeah…I know…questioning and constructive criticism do have their place in motherhood and from good-intentioned loved ones, neighbors, and coaches and teachers. I’m not saying go rogue and forsake any and all wise counsel.

Just be careful. Don’t let someone steal all your joy because of their criticism. You don’t have to receive every word they lay on you. Don’t take everything someone shoots your way and decide not to hang your hard work on the wall.